Bokaro Steel looks to fix canal in 3 days

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Workers carry out repairs at the Tenughat canal on Saturday. Picture by Pankaj Singh

Bokaro, April 28: Over 100 workers and technical experts of Hindustan Steelworks Construction Limited were today engaged in repairing the Tenughat canal that was breached yesterday near Bodrotand, with Bokaro Steel officials hoping to restore the lifeline in three days.

The Bokaro Steel management has asked Hindustan Steelworks Construction Limited (HSCL), led by its executive director Ramadhar Jha, to fix the canal which has suffered a 40-50ft breach.

HSCL is working on permanent concreting of the breached section. However, sources said, the constant flow of water was posing a challenge. The rush of water cannot be stopped to concrete the canalís base. Sandbags and stones were being used to contain the flow of water.

Speaking to The Telegraph, chief of communications of Bokaro Steel Sanjay Tewary said it would take three more days to repair the canal, adding the cooling pond at Bokaro had enough stock of water to cater to the needs of the plant, the city and Chas township for a week.

ďOne-time supply of water is being arranged for the people of Bokaro steel city and Chas township, keeping in mind the requirements of the plant as well,Ē said Tewary.

The authorities had already begun rationing water, with supply for only two and a half hours a day until the canal is repaired.

Around 30-40 people from among a section of the displaced who want jobs in the steel plant are said to have dug up the portion of the 34km-long channel early morning yesterday. However, no cases have been registered with police so far.